Tag Archives: avocado

How super cute is this Healthy Chocolate Green Smoothie in a mason jar?

OK I admit, I’ve kind of been on a mason jar kick ever since I started canning two years ago. Everything is better in mason jars! I’ve been using mason jars for all kinds of things from tea to herbs to hair clips. I actually received this one at a fund raiser. They handed them out as labeled drinking glasses, such a good idea right?

For my absolute fave smoothie, I wanted a special presentation but I confess <<looks sheepish>>, I just don’t get the smoothie bowl thing, they just look like pretty bowls of cold soup. But a 500ml mason jar worked beautifully, and the best part about using a mason jar is that you can save some for later or take it to go! No matter how you have it, one thing is for certain: my Healthy Chocolate Green Smoothie is a real treat!

For years I religiously started my mornings off with a smoothie, but during the winter season my body started craving a warm breakfast. This smoothie became my go-to recovery snack, or sometimes I’ll make it for a light lunch or healthy dessert. This smoothie is super nutritious but you’d never know it because it tastes oh-so-creamy and chocolate-y.

Did I mention how lusciously rich this smoothie is? I did? Ohh…

Using a frozen banana really gives it that milkshake texture. I highly recommend freezing all your bananas right now! But the best part is that the only sweetener is organic honey, and even though it contains sugar, honey also contains powerful antioxidants.

Gotta love those blessed antioxidants!

The key ingredient to this smoothie is the raw cocoa powder. Be sure you buy the raw, plain powder as cocoa mixes often contain sugar. Also, BONUS >> cocoa powder also contains antioxidants. When consumed with high levels of fiber, raw cocoa powder actually helps improve digestion. Good thing this smoothie has a big chunk of fibrous avocado!

But enough with those boring health facts (I love health facts!).

Healthy Chocolate Green Smoothie

I was inspired to combine avocado and cocoa after trying the Goop Chocolate Love Smoothie. The cocoa blended with the avocado creates a rich, chocolate creaminess, plus I love avocados in general. Bring on those healthy fats! I also added cocoa nibs because I like a bit of crunchiness, it reminds me of a chocolate chip shake (but be sure to check your teeth after, they will give you a wicked smile). Finally as if we didn’t have enough antioxidants already, I added a handful of greens. I like being sneaky with salad! Spinach is the easiest to blend unless you have a Vitamix. If you have one, I’m quite envious of you and your ability to pulverize kale.

The L-Glutemine powder is an optional addition – I add it to help repair and maintain muscle. I’m currently training for my 6th marathon so I need all the recovery foods I can get! But let me tell you – nothing is more rewarding after a long run than this velvety, packed-full-of-chocolate super green smoothie.

For the past three weeks, I have been doing my annual detox. What better time than after Easter to cleanse the body. Spring has sprung!

The basic rules of my regular detox are: no red meat, sugar, gluten, refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, corn & corn based products, and dairy. Seems crazy but by the second week I find it gets much easier, and even fun! I love trying out new vegetarian recipes and discovering alternative ways to spice and flavour, plus my body feels sooo amazing, I almost feel that it’s a shame to go back to my old ways!

This year I did something a little different and started off the cleanse with a 10 day detox, where you slowly eliminate and then bring back different elements. Day 5-7 was the most challenging because you are limited to: tofu, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, apples and pears. The hardest part – no rice, no beans.
But I did it! And man, was I bouncing around with energy that weekend, I practically flew through my running route!

Anyway, the one thing I love about detoxing is that I always find some new foods and recipes to add to my regular diet. This year I discovered: lentil chips (with guacamole, awesome), flax seed oil, quinoa salads, tofu mayo (with baked sweet potato fries – more awesomeness), steamed kale (OK vegetarians, I get it now!), apple/pear smoothie and quinoa onion rings (which I didn’t make but I had them at Fresh – best ever).

I’d like to share some of these recipes with you, so enjoy some healthy goodness!

First up:Quinoa, Tomato & Avocado Salad

Filling with fresh and creamy accents, this is a perfect salad for lunchtime! I discovered that flax seed oil works beautifully with quinoa – just a hint of salty nutty-ness, healthy and not too oily.

Makes 2 large salads

Ingredients:

1 cup organic quinoa

1 leek, white section chopped and rinsed

2 large hot house tomatoes, diced

1 roasted red pepper, diced

1 tablespoon flax seed oil

lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

1 avocado

Boil two cups of water in a saucepan. Add the quinoa and allow water to return to a boil. Stir in the leeks and place a lid over the saucepan and turn the heat to low. Cook quinoa 15 minutes until all the water has been absorbed. Fluff with fork.

Add the tomatoes, peppers, flax seed oil and salt and pepper to taste and a squirt of lemon juice.

Split into two servings and keep in the fridge until ready to eat.

To serve, slice half the avocado into cubes and sprinkle over top. Wrap up the other half of the avocado and save for the second serving of salad.

Greetings & salutations! My name is Paula and I love to write, eat brains, watch scary movies and make fake blood. I'm always on the lookout for my next adventure, and preparing for the zombie apocalypse.